I've been here 8 or 9 times and I used to love it. We supported them through the pandemic because they're family owned. The food is good, and the servers are also very nice but one of the hostesses is exceptionally rude (the older of the 2 women). The last time I was here, she snapped at us twice and talked extremely disrespectfully. We walked in excited and smiley-- it was my friends first time going out since she had her baby. Our smiles didn't last and we walked out, even though there were chairs available to sit at. Needless to say we were excited for some good Giannis food, but went somewhere else. To support a business through tough times on a regular basis and then talked to the way we were was unacceptable.... I won't be returning. Super bummed. Being nice isn't a lot to expect from a host or hostess at any restaurant. I'd avoid this one. read more

Good food & friendly helpful staff!!!! Always a good dining experience!! The Palatine location is a great ambiance!! read more

So I went this Cafe with my family, and we went too an outside table and it was amazing! The food was very good and I would rate it 10/10, Perfect for family And this server named Patrick is very nice would recommend him read more

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Nice relaxing casual restaurant with very good food. The kind of place you return to again and again.

My mom and I tried to go here on a Saturday night, not even realizing that it was homecoming season. The wait was an hour and a half so we left and drove around trying to find somewhere else to eat that night. We ended up on a driving Adventure through several suburbs and about an hour and a half later decided to try again. I'm so glad that we did. I worked across the street from this place for probably four years and I am amazed that I have never tried it. But I did that night and the food was absolutely incredible. Thank you for being a place that realizes that marinara and Alfredo can make a delicious sauce when they're put together. And also for being a restaurant that truly takes pride in its food. read more

Gianni's Cafe - Italian Near Me - Kildeer, Illinois

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So Saturday night found ourselves in the Deer Park area.....looking for some place nearby for a nice dinner and Gianni's showed up on the list. Made a yelp reservation which came in extremely handy when we showed up and there were a few parties waiting for a table. We walked in and were seated promptly. Fast forward, the server named Michael was excellent and offered great menu suggestions. The rigatoni with sausage, peas and vodka sauce was great. The seafood suprema was wonderful but too much for one person to handle. The wine list was good and 'affordable' (I counted about a 20 dollar markup on a 50 dollar bottle of wine). Tiramisu was brought our for dessert and was the best I've had in quite some time. read more

It was by sheer coincidence that we decided to drive here for dinner last evening. Showing up at front desk without a reservation is definitely not a great idea but thankfully the lady who considering is the manager if not the owner of this venue was accommodating. Table for 4 arranged and we were seated in no time. Kyle (kudos) who attended to us was simply amazing with the meal suggestions and house favorites. Not big eaters we decided to make it a light meal; Sicilian styled grilled calamari, Spaghetti meat balls, molten lava cake with a nice vanilla scoop, not forgetting a glass of Moscato for the Mrs. Thank you both for making it a lovely evening at the end of it and the next time we visit Kildeer, will certainly make an appointment to dine in again. Clive read more

They are serving outside! In cute little heated domes with fairy lights. How fun is this? Always a favorite restaurant they have the most delicious meals. Happy to support them in this difficult time. read more

Gianni's Cafe - Gianni's dome for outdoor eating - Italian Near Me - Kildeer, Illinois

We've been to Gianna's twice over the last month and are enamored with this little gem. Don't let it's nondescript strip mall storefront fool you. Gianna's is a quaint restaurant with fantastic food! Their outdoor seating is pleasant given its location. The service has been truly wonderful. Melanie has been our server on both visits and she is phenomenal - pleasant, knowledgeable, and efficient. Gianna's is lucky to have her and as a customer you'll recognize the great service if she's caring for your table. As for the food, We loved the veal Napoleon and the BBQ Salmon with corn risotto. Both were extremely tasty with big enough portions to take some home for lunch the next day. This gem is definitely worth a visit if you enjoy Italian food! read more

Made our reservations for one of the igloos via phone and that went pretty smoothly. When we arrived, we were seated right away and served their complimentary bread. Food was good and the igloos were a nice touch to the place. However, the service was not what I expected. The server was unwelcoming and cold. We felt as if it was such a hassle for them to have customers dining in person. I didn't want to think its because of our color or that we brought kids with us, but after reading one of the reviews here (and I only read it now, not before I went to the restaurant) it all made sense. I am very mindful of where we bring our kids because I understand not all places are suited for small children. That's why I opted to dine in one of their igloos, that way, we are by oursleves and even then, my kids were seated the whole time, minding their own business. No matter how great the food is, if service is bad, it nulls the entire experience. I still posted our photos on social media but didn't mention the location. People have been messaging me where we went and I didn't hesitate to tell them my experience. Never going back again. read more

I ordered grilled calamari, small ceasar and cheese ravioli. The calamari was disgusting! And it was burned. The smell was so bad! The salad was fast food quality, heavt ceasar dressing. And the ravioli was average but they can't even make a decent sauce? Very disappointed and would never order from them again. 50 bucks and I threw most of it away. Boo* read more

The bread and olive oil with a Chiffonade basil and shredded parm is amazing could have had that for dinner alone. Nice presentation . Good chewy bread . Had mussel appetizer was cooked in chicken stock in a white sauce, way to salty. Had chicken Vesuvius tasted like the same stock the mussels were cooked in. A lot of added salt. Was very tender all breast . Potatoes were perfect. Blue cheese was excellent in the salad. read more

Gianni's Cafe - Chicken vesuvio - Italian Near Me - Kildeer, Illinois

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Food was so delicious, so good, we had the salmon fish for dinner. Serivce was very good, our waiter was very polite and explaining all of our options. read more

One of our favorite and go to Italian restaurants. We've been going there for year and I can honestly say we've never had a bad meal and everything is always consistent. The wine and cocktail selection is solid and so is their craft beer selection. Which is not something I can say about a lot of Italian places. This is one of their two locations in the northwest burbs. Both locations have great general managers and amazing staff and service. The owners are super engaged and care about their clients. We do a lot more carry out these days, but in response to COVID requirements they do have these awesome outdoor igloos you can reserve for dining. Super popular place, so reservations are definitely recommended. Make sure to follow them on social media FB, Instagram for weekly specials and events. read more

Gianni's is a delicious Italian spot. I went for dinner on a Friday night. There are two locations. The one in Palatine is spacious and the one in Kildeer is more intimate. I was at the Kildeer location. The food is not affected, but the restaurant is a bit cramped. I wish they would expand their waiting area. I love that when you sit down they give you bread & oil with Parmesan and basil in it....delicious! I started with a cup of minestrone and then had chicken cacciatore. Usually this dish comes with chicken bone in and I asked for boneless and they had no problem with that! It is a really tasty place and The Kildeer location would be a great intimate date night spot! I know I will be back :) read more

My husband and I had eaten dinner at home. We were in the mood at 8 pm for desert and espresso. We drove through the snow storm this past Saturday night to test out the 4 wheel drive and found ourselves at Giannis in Deer Park. The igloos were full so we sat inside. I ordered the lemon cake and a double espresso. I have never had a better lemon cake. Not even in Italy. It was three layers of limoncello and creme deliciousness. One of the layers was soaked with limoncello much like a lemon tiraimisu. I was in lemon heaven. read more

Always delicious! Never disappointed with menu or service at Kildeer location. Keep up the good work! We're regulars!

We have been loyal Gianni's patrons for many years. I love the intimate vibe and the food is always wonderful. Tonight, I'm sorry to say, has left me feeling so slighted that I don't think we will be back for quite awhile. We had a reservation for 730pm. When we arrived at 7:33 we were told that they were just waiting for a few tables to finish and they would seat us. No problem. We sat at the bar, I had a glass of wine, my husband just had water while we waited..... and waited.... at 8:00 we decided we would leave if we weren't seated in 5 min. At 8:05 the manager rushed over to seat us, We decided to stay, I completely understand in a small restaurant like that, that we may have to wait for a table, but a half hour past our reservation is a bit excessive. Our meal was good, nothing spectacular, we ordered glasses of wine, but our waters were never refilled. At the end of the meal when we got our check, we were charged for the glass of wine I had at the bar! I was kind of stunned. I assumed that since the manager, who had apologized for our table not being ready, would have comped it ( which is what I did many times as a restaurant manager). This may seem like a small thing, but it felt like such a slap in the face, After we have been loyal customers for many years. It's just something that will stick with me and I will think of this every time we are trying to decide where to go for dinner... and don't choose Giannis. read more

I happened to be in the area and read the reviews. Met all my expectations! Nice small Italian eatery. Nice bar when you enter. Hostess friendly when you walk in. Our server, Frank F., was friendly, helpful, attentive to the correct amount. Our food, the sea bass scampi with shrimp, veal and egg parmigiana were delicious! I was surprised with a tiramisu treat for my birthday. Nice choices of wine to go with our meal. Heard about the wonderful salads for lunches. I need to come back when in the area. Atmosphere delightful Loved the bread with dipping sauce of basil and Parmesan cheese. A most flavorful taste! Only issue is the wood floor and high ceilings which cause the noise level to be amplified. A friend had to remove his hearing aides because the background noises were too much. read more

I went here for lunch with high expectations due to the good prices and quality of food at Gianni's Deli next door but I didn't have an excellent experience. Compared to many other Italian Restaurants I've been to, the seating was a bit cramped and service slow (especially for the lunch hour). The best part of the meal was the bread with olive oil and the mussels appetizer which used PEI mussels in a white wine broth that was tasty but not overly salty. The chicken parmigiana was crispy on the outside and cooked well on the inside but the portions were rather small. The pasta sauce was also a little too sour for me. The Italian beef sandwich was executed decently but the beef was a bit too salty and the fries were a bit soggy. The aglio olio pasta was a bit too much on the oily side without enough garlic and cheese in my opinion. Although it's literally supposed to be tossed in oil, I think it's better to try to keep it lighter and extract more garlic flavor. The food wasn't bad at all, but for a restaurant of this caliber I expected more attention to detail of the different elements of the dishes. Due to the high ratings from others on Yelp, I may have gone on an off-day and will probably try this again soon. read more

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We like Gianna's. Their food is great.We were disappointed in our first Covid19 curbside experience. First: Why no prices on your online menu? It's something that's easy to do, and can be changed in a daily basis, if necessary. The only special request - no blue cheese on the wedge salad - was flubbed. C'mon Gianni's, you're better than this. read more

I came here for Easter brunch buffet with my family, and we had a good time here. The wait staff was great in letting me have the unlimited mimosas-hold the oj. The atmosphere of this small restaurant was nice and casual too. The food was just mediocre, sadly. It definitely wasn't food that I was glad we spent $30 on. The prime rib hacked up this price, and that was pretty delicious, but everything else was just mediocre. The scrambled eggs were pretty bad, as were the thin slices of bacon. The chicken was dry. The pasta was okay, so was the sausage. The dessert selections were not appetizing. Overall, you can definitely get a good meal in at the brunch buffet, but nothing note-worthy at all sadly. read more

My family found Gianni's during tax season a few years ago; I enjoy a nice lunch out when the Saturday work is fine. Since then, we've been many times and think this is one of the best Italian restaurants in the Chicagoland area. The service is always excellent and they have a nice wine selection. The complimentary bread comes with a flavored oil contains Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. There are plenty of light/low carb options along with an array of delightful pasta and meat dishes. The patio is really nice, as well. read more

You would have never assumed the quality of food that came out of the kitchen here just based on the location. It's located in a strip mall and the space is small and intimate, which I absolutely love. Myself and two others arrived around 6:00pm for dinner. We had a reservation and were seated immediately! Our server, Frankie, was extremely patient and helpful in navigating the menu with us. Coming from an Asian household, I don't have much experience in Italian food. We ended up ordering the following items: Bread (on the house): I love that they mix in fresh basil and parm in their olive oil! I'm going to steal the basil trick from now on. Half Portion Fried Calamari - Sicilian Style (butter, lemon, garlic sauce) I was surprised by how much calamari was served for a half portion! You could have easily convinced my that it was a full portion. The Sicillian Style really gives the fried calamari a good dose of flavor! We cleaned the entire place with bread picking up all the sauce that was left over. Half Portion Grilled Calamari If you like the taste of char on your calarmari, this is for you! I ate 80% of this plate and could have cleaned it off, but I had to share with the other people ate my table. Pescatore in Red Sauce I was truly blown away by my Pescatore dish! I was nervous that with all the seafood, it would be too fishy, but they have truly have perfected this dish. The amount of seafood is incredible. It is an impressive dish, and if you're trying to impress, this is the one to order. This dish could have been shared between three people too! BYO Pasta: Rigatone, Bolognese, Meatballs, Mushrooms and Peas The meatballs are confusingly light for how filling they are! It is seriously the best meatballs I've ever had. The Bolognese sauce was extra meaty, to the point where my husband said if he had known how meaty the sauce was, he wouldn't have ordered meatballs, but was thankful he did (because they are that delicious). Chicken Lasagna My brother's chicken lasagna was perfect. The chicken was cooked so well and it was so juicy! Tiramisu Frankie convinced us to order the tiramisu, even through we were stuffed. The Tiramisu was made that morning and it was the lightest tiramisu I've ever had. It felt like we were eating clouds. It truly was the perfect dessert to end the night. The portions are large, like VERY large - almost family style large. Usually, you lose quality in your dishes when restaurants serve large portions, but that's not the case for Gianni's Cafe. They feed you like family and they treat you like family. I wish I would have known about this place sooner. But now that I now about it, I'll be a regular here! read more

We had an enjoyable early evening meal here. We found lots of wonderful choices on the menu including a build your own pasta option where you select your pasta, sauce (properly called GRAVY!) and any add ons. Our dinner salads were fresh, crispy, tasty and had very flavorful dressing without it being the least bit overpowering. Our service was excellent- we got what we needed without the staff being intrusive in the least. We certainly will be back when we can take the time to have a more relaxed meal. read more

Gianni's Cafe - Some of the choices on the build your own pasta entree menu. Nearly limitless combinations. - Italian Near Me - Kildeer, Illinois

After many visits, we went Sunday for a birthday dinner. Our server Kyle had the warmth, smile, manners & respect one would expect from a seasoned 20 year server. At 24 years old, he is accomplished way beyond his years. Excellent server who clearly enjoys his work. The food as always was great. From the fresh warm bread with garlicky oil to the terrific soups and salad we started on a high note! Oh...the Chianti helped as well Dinner was absolutely delicious & plentiful. We opted for angle hair pasta agioli instead of side penne & were very pleasantly surprised. The main delicious dinners were perfect with to go boxes for a great lunch. To cap it off, Kyle heard my son wish my wife a Happy Birthday so brought us a a monster Sized Tiramisu on the house. Luscious & not overly sweet . All in all this is a tiny hidden gem that never disappoints. Try it....you I'll be very happy. With restaurants being bashed left & right these days, we wanted to make sure we gave them a great review for a job well done! Rob Greenberg read more

Amazing. I have a soy allergy. I have been so stressed to eat out. They made sure that I was able to eat there. Their food is fresh. If you have not eaten there you must go. Very Quaint restaurant. The staff made me feel at ease. The food is handmade and so very fresh. Thank you, thank you If I could give 1,000 starts I would. read more

Gianni's Palatine has been a favorite of mine for years. Kildeer's atmosphere is far inferior - cafeteria-like. Neither the food, nor the cocktails, are to the same high standard. Not Nearly. It took 15 minutes for a server (not ours) to acknowledge us. My drink was just fine. No complaints. My daughter's didn't taste as described. She ordered a different drink, but they were out of an ingredient. Third try was "meh". I was looking forward to my gluten free spaghetti calamari arrabiata. My daughter ordered Chicken Vesuvio. They brought her dry unseasoned chicken, and I got penne instead of spaghetti. Being gluten free is no thrill, but it's hardly a curse these days. But hey, don't just substitute and change my meal without telling me. Calamari is great with linguini, and is fine with spaghetti. Don't bring me penne and say "sorry, we're out of spaghetti. Will not be back to this location. I would give zero stars if possible. You might like this place if you're in the early-bird white socks and sandals crowd. I have higher standards read more

Food and service was good but it is SO cramped Inside that another tables chair was pretty much at our table. Very uncomfortable that the tables are on top of each other. read more

My husband and I have dined here twice. It's a very cute little restaurant with friendly service. One visit was on a Saturday evening, the second visit was a weeknight. Both times we were seated quickly. The bread is brought to the table with a garlic and herb infused oil. The oil was delicious. I generally limit myself to one piece of bread because I do not wish to fill up on bread. This was too flavorful to limit to just one piece. My husband had the lasagna during both visits. It was a large portion with lots of ricotta with bolognese sauce. I know he loved it, because he cleaned his plate and ordered it during the 2nd visit. They have a great selection of menu items, including raw oysters, baked clams, veal, chicken, seafood and a long list of specialty entrees. They also offer a create your own pasta menu. This was my choice both visits. Both visits I selected the same creation, because it was that good. I had the homemade gnocchi, with scallops and crimossa sauce. (prosciutto, roasted peppers & cream.) The gnocchi were cooked perfectly and the sauce was incredible. Their coffee is wonderful, bold, strong and flavorful. The wait staff were friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back. read more

Gianni's Cafe - garlic and herb infused oil - Italian Near Me - Kildeer, Illinois

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Haven't been to one of our favorite places in quite a while but so glad we did. Sat outside and were immediately greeted by our server Jon who turned out to be fantastic. Brought bread and our drinks promptly and engaged us in really lively conversation about another of our favorite places, Las Vegas! Food was outstanding as usual. Chicken Marsala and Country Rigatoni. Had a wonderful dinner with delicious food and excellent service from Jon. So happy in this post-Covid world of declining service and high prices with smaller portions that things have NOT changed at Gianni's. We'll be back soon! read more

Food is great but a bit pricey for pasta. Small indoor dining area but nice, great outdoor dining as well. Service is ok, one waitress in particular is a bit rude at times but for the most part the rest of staff are friendly. Take out is good too, orders are made fresh and always right. read more

I was expecting something different. Im not going to rip them since the food was good, despite the smaller portions compared to their prices. It was packed in there and couldnt even walk between the tables. The waitress was so busy and being pulled in every direction so we were left to hang awhile for drinks, waters and the check. The noise made it impossible to talk between all of us. The food was great and seemed large portions since they served it in large bowls and plates and used alot of sauce. First time there and not sure its worth going back dealing with that again unless its at an off time. read more

Had a really great meal here. Very generous portions, delicious food, very attentive service...what's not to love? Wellllll, it is small, cramped, crowded, noisy and dimly lit. I find those things mildly annoying BUT everything else is so great THEY STILL GET FIVE STARS. read more

I'm very confused as to why this place has four stars. This is the worst Italian food I've ever had. Not to mention pricey. The marinara tasted like canned sauce and the oyster were disgusting. I'm only writing this in hopes of saving a few people of an overpriced underwhelming dinner. read more

I've been to this restaurant a couple times now. It is fantastic! It's across the street from Biaggi's at Deer Park mall near Bed Bath and Beyond and Ulta. I really enjoyed the chicken piccata (I added artichoke hearts). This last time I went I had the rolled ricotta and spinach with one of the rolls with vodka sauce the other with marinara. It was delicious and same with my pear martini. Dinner also comes with the soup or salad. The chicken lemon rice soup was outstanding. I don't think "café" after the name does the restaurant any justice. It should be called restaurant, bistro or something else. The service both times were very good, the prices are fair, the cocktails are very good and the bar area is fairly quaint but nice. However I gave it four stars because it can be very loud in there (Biaggi's has better ambience) and the dining area is a bit small but the food here is much better than Biaggi's! This is a must go to restaurant and I will continue to go here when I'm in the area. They also have a location in Palatine which I plan to go to as well. While there are many choices in the area is a must go to place! read more

I love consistency in a restaurant's quality. It's one of the things I love about going out. This place delivers. The decor is nice and not overpowering. However, the place is cramped and if they removed just one table, things would feel more spacious and make maneuvering through the space much easier. The noise level is deafening but I can't remember if music was part of the problem or just bad acoustics. The staff is friendly and professional. However, all that disappears when you taste the food. The cocktails are expertly made. My bulleit rye old fashion was smooth and tasty. After slices of flavorful bread and some of the best oil and cheese ever! We dove right into the entrees with a French salad with the perfectly balanced creamy garlic dressing. The capellini Bolognese was so delicious that it pained me to only half. Everyone ordered a different sauce (marinara and supreme) with pasta and raved about it. They are also very generous with the sauce. The veal piccata was said to be out of this world. If you like dependable pasta WITH sauce, this is your place! read more

We were deciding where we wanted to go for dinner for fathers day and of the options suggested, we took a chance on Giannis after some acceptable reviews we surfaced. To say we were disappointed would be an extreme understatement! Where to start..... We arrived and were seated outside with a relatively large party. The atmospherics were ok, but the music was being piped in from the mall so there was no way to lower the volume. As such it was difficult to have a conversation. We received water and bread, but no other accoutrements to accompany the bread (butter/oil/parmesan) were provided. After about 25 minutes, I sent my daughter in to check and see if they forgot about us and about 10 minutes later a waitress finally came out. What was most perplexing was that this was towards the end of the evening and there weren't very many people there. After getting our drinks we placed our order, this was now close to 45 min after we were seated. We ordered our food and that took at least another 30 minutes. Given the time frame that elapsed I had high hopes that this extensive preparation would yield one of the most stellar culinary creations I've had ever sampled. Unfortunately it was quite the contrary. Not only was it one of the worst meals I've had, it was literally inedible. I had the Branzino, a light white fish that should be flakey and succulent, what I received was a char-broiled piece of fish that was literally burnt to a crisp (no exaggeration). How anyone could actually serve this and not be completely embarrassed, is mystifying. What made it worse is that no one even recognized the amount of time that had elapsed and the fact that at least two of 5 dishes we were served were virtually untouched. No apology for the wait, the inconvenience nor the terrible service/food. By this point we were all so frustrated all we wanted to do was leave. Needless to say I will never frequent this establishment again and suggest another option for anyone considering an evening out. read more

Delicious but small. The place fills up early and their aren't many seats available. The food seems to always be good. It can get pricey but you get what you pay for. Terrific Italian food! read more

This restaurant caught my nose when I was going into Ulta to grab some hygiene essentials. I had not noticed before but the heavenly smells wafting out made me instantly want to give it a try. I made 5.30 indoor reservations on a Saturday same day without issue. Inside is quite cozy. The food is fantastic. They have staples like sausage and peppers as well as pick your type of pasta , toppings and sauce. Full bar and desert menu. Service was also fantastic for how busy it was. We will be returning here again. read more